Device fob facing tiles



631.5511511. "DEVICE FOR FACING TILES. L\PPL|CATV|0N FILED DEC. 17. 19l5.

1 1 941,554u Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

INVENT AT T EHINET'.

niararnn sara rarer niet.

GEORGE J". SEILER, 0F TURTLE CREEK, PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVICE FOR FACING TILES.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, Gnonen J. SniLnR, a citizen ofI the United States of America, residing at Turtle Creek, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Devices for Facing Tiles, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in devices for facing tiles, and specifically to means whereby terra cotta tiles or other tiles or blocks of this character may be faced with a plastic cement face, which, after the face has set and dried, is suitable for use in fronts of buildings and other structures.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive building block or tile that may be used on the front of a building and is capable of various forms of ornamentation, which in addition to its economical characteristics, is comparatively light but of sufficient weight and strength to perform its required functions, and withal is durable and may be handled with facility in building operations.

The invention consists essentially in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts in connection with a matrix and its receptacle or box by means of which the matrix is operated, as will be hereinafter more specifically set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings l have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment, of my invention constructed according to the best mode li have so far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention.

Figure l is a top plan view of the device showing the matrix and mold box. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical central sectional view of Fig. l on line 2-2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but with the matrix lowered in position to receive a plastic cement for the facing Fig. t is a plan view of the matrix and mold box, reversed, and located in position on top of a tile to be faced. Fig. 5 is al transverse sectional-view of the reversed matrix and mold box. Fig. 6 illustrates the position of the mold upon a tile, in side view. Fig. 7 is an end view of Fig. 6, and Fig. S is a side elevation of a faced tile.

For convenience of description l shall refer to the tile to be faced as a terra cotta, hollow tile and the cement facing as made up Specification of Letters Patent. Pgmbnlgd Aug, 15, 1916.

Application led December 17, 1915.

Serial N0. 67,383.

of suitable parts of cement, sand and water, but it will be understood that other elements than terra cotta tile, and other plastic facing materials may be employed, although not specifically herein referred to.

ln the preferred embodiment of my invention as illustrated in the drawings the mold box l is preferably a rectangular frame, of wood or metal, rigidly constructed and open at both top and bottom. The ends of the box are recessed as at 2, 2, or cut out to facilitate the operation of facing the tile, and the box is preferably of such size and weight that it may be manipulated by hand with ease and skill.

`Within the rectangular mold box a matrix 3 is provided. This matrix is preferably of wood and it will be noted that its dimensions are such that it may be freely moved within the interior of the mold box l. The metallic face plate i however is of suitable dimensions to fit neatly within the mold box. This face plate 4c, as 'seen best in Figs. 2 and 3, is provided with a specially formed or designed surface which may represent building stones, as in the drawings, or plane dressed blocks may be represented as desired. The face plate is rigidly and firmly attached to the matrix block 3 and is movable therewith within the mold box 1.

l/Vhen in position to receive the facing material, the matrix is lowered as in Fig. 8 and is supported upon two cleats 5, 5, which are located near the ends of the mold box and attached as by screws 6, G, to the edges of their sides so that the cleats extend across the open end of the mold box. Eachcleat is provided with a pair of metallic tubes or pipes as 7, 7, etc., rigidly held therein and extended vertically therethrough. These four pipes are designed to incase the four posts or metallic rods 8, 8, 8, 8, which are fixed to the matrix and project therefrom a sufficient distance to pass through the pipes. By mea-ns of these posts and pipes it will readily be seen that the movement of the matrix in its mold box is rendered steady and stable and the pipes prevent wear on the wooden cleats 5 5.

The cleats and connections support the matrix when in receiving position, and the matrix is supported while in delivering position by means of a pair of turn buttons at each end of the block 3, as indicated at 9, 9, 9, 9. These buttons are preferably of metal andare pivoted adjacent the edges of the wood block 3 so that their arms may extend outwardly over -the recessed ends of the mold box as indicated at 2, 2. Thus, when the mold box is turned to the reverse position of Fig. 3 the matrix is supported solely by the four buttons which rest upon the recessed ends of the box.

rlhe thickness or depth of the plastic or cement facing may be gaged and determined by the number of washers 10, placed upon the posts 8 and interposed between the matrix block and the cleats. Thus the depth of the facing plate or matrix plate et below the Vupper edge of the mold box in Fig. 3 may be increased by withdrawing the washers, or this depth may be diminished by applying washers to the posts as will readily be understood. A knocking plate 11 is attached to the surface of the matrix block and is to receive blows from a hammer or like tool in order to compress the facing material and make it into a compact mass.

A hollow terra cotta tile is indicated by the number 12 in Figs. 6, 7, and 8, and in Fig. 8 a facing 13 is shown attached thereto.

The modus operandi of facing the tile is as follows: After the gage or thickness of the facing has been determined and adjusted by the use of washers 10 on the posts 8, the device is positioned as shown in Fig. 3, with the matrix dropped so that the face plate -t is below the surface of the upper edges of the mold box. The mold box is now in position to receive the cement facing, and the same is poured or placed upon the face plate to lill the receptacle formed by the face plate within the top of the mold box, and then a straight edge is used to smooth the upper face of the cement, using the edges of the mold box as aguide. The terra cotta tile is now placed on top of the mold box containing the facing, and the said tile, mold box and facing reversed to position shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The tile has previously been prepared for its facing by being given a preliminary dip in a cement grout solution to enhance the adhesion between the yet plastic facing and the tile. As soon as the device is placed in position on the top of the tile, the matrix is forced down Aand the mold box withdrawn upwardly, thus depositing the facing of cement upon the upper face of the tile. After a suicient time has elapsed, it will be found that the facing has set and the tile is provided with a face which is practically integral therewith and attached thereto with sufficient adhesion as to prevent the possibility of dislodgment or detachment therefrom.

It will readily be seen that the surface of the face plate may be changed as to its configuration, or the face plate may be detached and another one of different conliguration used in its place, or an entirely different matrix, block and plate may be substituted for the one already in use. By turning the turn buttons 9, the matrix may be readily withdrawn from the mold box for this purpose. lf desired the faces of the blocks or tile may be made and permitted to harden, and then laid aside until required for use and not be applied while plastic to the tile. Other alterations or changes may be made in the device and its operation, as for instance the facings may be colored in the usual manner for coloring cement, to produce a variety of colored faced-tiles, and these and similar changes may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention as disclosed in my claims.

I claim:

1. rlhe combination with a mold box open at bottom and top and provided with a pair of perforated cleats attached to its bottom edges, of a matrix movable within the box and having posts guided by said perforated cleats, means for adjusting the distance of the matrix from the cleats, and means for supporting the matrix in the box when the latter is reversed.

2. The combination with a mold box having transverse perforated cleats, of a movable matrix with posts guided in the cleats, a plurality of washers between the cleats and matrix, and turn buttons on the matrix for supporting the same when the mold box is reversed.

3. The combination with a mold box open at bottom and top and provided with a pair of perforated transverse cleats, of a movable matrix within the box having posts fitted in the cleats and supported thereby, and movable, normally inoperative retaining means carried by the matrix adapted to engage the box and suspend the matrix when the latter' is in reversed position.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

GEORGE J. SELER.

` Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C. 

